What would change if people lived as if
nature mattered?
Modern societies tend to be anthropocentric. Many consider nature worthwhile only insofar as it conveys benefits for people. Take, for example, framing the Amazon’s importance in terms of the oxygen we need to survive, or the as-yet-undiscovered plant species which might be used to produce medicines.
But do the Amazon’s flora and fauna not deserve to thrive purely based on their own existence? Is it right to expect nature to earn its keep by providing services to humans?
ARNE NAESS: THE FOUNDER OF DEEP ECOLOGY
Deep Ecology was founded by Arne Naess, a Norwegian philosopher, in 1976. Naess opposed the idea that environmental degradation should only be challenged because it affects human life, without consideration for the natural world. He termed this 『shallow environmentalism』.
With the creation of Deep Ecology, he called instead for a system which sustains the planet we call home, prizes ecological wisdom as well as scientific fact, and allows every living being to thrive.
Photo: Arne Naess by Jørn H. Moen
The Deep Ecology philosophy is based on the idea that we are one with nature, just a part of the natural community. It teaches us to shift our mindset, so that when we say 『each one of us』, we not only refer to people, but to all beings: each insect, each blade of grass, each pebble in a riverbed.
Every being should be respected regardless of their perceived 『usefulness』, because they contribute to the ecosystems of which they are a part, even if that contribution isn’t immediately visible.
"Through deep experience, deep questioning and deep commitment emerges Deep Ecology.」
— Arne Naess
The central tenet of Deep Ecology, that every being has its own intrinsic value, is a simple enough idea, but how does one put this teaching into practice?
Naess believed that through opening ourselves to deep experiences in nature, interrogating our ethics, and deeply committing to honour Earth without expecting a return, each one of us can find where our values meet those of Deep Ecology.
The Deep Ecology cycle, experiencing, questioning and committing, is always in motion, forever guiding us deeper to our inner selves and strengthening the threads which link us to the planet we call home. This cycle leads us to what Naess called an ecosophy, a 『personal philosophy』, or a set of individualised beliefs about nature.
FINDING YOUR ECOSOPHY
To guide practitioners to their own ecosophies, Naess created the eight-point Deep Ecology Platform, a set of principles with the recognition of nature’s intrinsic value at their core.
Teachers of Deep Ecology encourage students to use the platform as a guideline for building their own ecosophies, rather than accepting the principles without question.
Ecosophies are fluid and transient. Just as we grow and change over time, so too do our ecosophies, and perception of and connection to the natural world.
Almost fifty years since its conception, Deep Ecology continues to inform activist groups and underpin environmental management decisions.
As the understanding of this field develops, it has also been recognised for its relevance to social justice and spirituality.
Living with the principles of Deep Ecology, and recognising that nature matters, empowers us to create a society which is better for everyone.
Welcoming Deep Ecology into your life and using the methods outlined by Naess to define your own ecosophy can help strengthen your connection to the natural world and understand what needs to change in order to create a sustainable future.
To learn more about living as if nature mattered, join Gaia Learning’s Introduction Programme:
Spiritual Ecology.
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ARTICLE RESOURCE LIST:
· The Shallow and the Deep, Long-Range Ecology Movement. A Summary by Arne Naess, 1973
· Deep Ecology: Living as if Nature Mattered: Devall and Sessions on Defending the Earth by Timothy W. Luke, 2002
· What is Deep Ecology by Stephen Harding (URL: https://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/learning-resources/what-is-deep-ecology Accessed 07/20)
· Revisioning Environment: Deep Ecology for Education and Teaching in Social Work by Fred H. Besthorn and Edward R. Canda, 2008
· The Deep Ecology Platform by Arne Naess and George Sessions (Source: Foundation for Deep Ecology, http://www.deepecology.org/platform.htm Accessed 07/20)
· Images: Unsplash
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